The Nationalist Party said this evening that it would be discussing the spring hunting issue internally, but it felt the people should be kept at liberty to decide how they should vote without the issue being politicised.

Its statement was issued after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said he had decided that the referendum would be held on April 11. He also said that while political parties should not interfere, he would personally be voting for the retention of spring hunting, in line with his previous declarations.

The PN said Dr Muscat had committed a mistake when he decided on the referendum date 'for his own political purposes'. According to the law, this was a duty of the President, the party insisted.